The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-02
A FATAL SUPERSTITION.
by JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.
PART 1.-THE SHADOW.


facts most largely concerns first became
known TO me on a Sunday afternoon, about
the middle of March, 1868. Not only be-
cause it was Sunday, but also because the
week just closed had been an unusually Ia
borious one, with an undue share of night
work, L was on that day earnestly craving
rest. But that, as l am III the habit of
saying, is what no physician in active
practice can be sure of till he dies; and
upon this occasion my after dinner nap on
the sofa could not have been ten minutes
in progress when the tinkle of the torment
ing door-bell thrilled all my tired nerves
with an exquisite sense of impending labor
and misery.
"Why can't they let you alone on Sun
days, at ieast?" asked my good niece,
Jeanne, in voice full of sympathetic in
jury. Poor, dear girl-if she could have
known how much that ring of the bell
meant for her.
The servant came in to say that the caller
was young man whom she had shown
into the parlor. He would not give his
name; he wished to see DR.. Barlow. Ad-
justing my toilet and smoothing out my
vexed race, / entered the parlor. The Wis
itor was seated at the opposite side of the
room; he rose at once, came straightto me,
and held out his hand. Before he spoke,
before l had'learned his name, my vexation
took flight. To use homely but expressive
phrase, the young fellows appearance in
stantly cultivated me; he was one of those
persons whom you look at second tipe,
upon meeting In the street. He was tall,
straight, and symmetrical, with head of
curly chestnut hair bright blue eye, COM
plexion pure pink and white, and an as
pect of manly frankness and good nature.
At this time, as | afterward learned,
he was twenty-five years old. His voice,
as first heard 1t, was as musical as
bell.
Il am very sorry, Doctor" he said, "to
trouble you to-day; but am so anxious to
see YOU 1t vas but few days ago that
learned your address, and, just as soon as
1t was possible, came on from Boston,
where / have lived for some years. 1t hap
pened that / reached New York by the late
train last night. DR.. Bland gave me your
address"
All this, though uttered in an earnest, al
most serious tone, gave me no particular
clue TO the identity of the speaker The
only Ineligible part of his introduction
was the mention of the name of DIR. Bland,
of Bosfon-my best and most valued friend
IN the profession. l remarked as much.
All, yes; he told me the same of YOU.
EHeH is letter that he gave me for you"
i took 1T, glanced at the familiar hand
moment without opening it, while / made
some casual remark to my sister. He Ie
, piled, but without the spirit and eager
ness with which he had before spoken.
His eyes were fixed upon the letter in my
Nand.
"Your face seems familiar to me, / went
on, yet don't remember to have met you
before"
please read the letter." he said. His
1,,ll n.
astonishing radidity; he sat down and put
both hands up to his head, and L distinctly
heard deep drawn sigh.
This was what the letter said:
"BosToN, March 13, 1868.
~DEAR STEPHEN-If you can make any,
thing out of this boys case you are better
doctor than las perhaps you are, anyway,
He will tell you all about it; no use for me
toSdiagnose, for / am fairly stumped, and
he has been with me nearly two years. L
have built up n dozen different theories
about his complaint, and have rejected them
all, The result of it all is that l can't
minister to a mind diseased and have
recommended a change of air and scene, in
despair of being able to do anything better
for him. Do you start fresh with him and
try it. Faithfully yours,
FALLEN BLAND.
~P. 81 almost forgot to say that his
name is Raymond Wager. He is the only
child of our old friend and classmate, the
late Wilson Wager. A. Il.
With this key before me, the familiar APP
pesrance of the young mans face was ex-
planned, and my interest in him was ten
fold excited. Sitting down by him, took
both his hands warmly, told him in all sim
cerity that was delighted to see him, and
led him to talk of himself. For five min
utes he went on with animation to give me
little sketch of his life. His parents had
both died while he was quite young, leav-
ing him very wealthy, and in the care of q
maiden aunt. Blood will tell, and this
young fellows speech and appearance We're
sufficient TO assure me that neither wealth
nor petting had spoiled him. His face
showed me that he had grown up studious
temperate, and chaste. He said much
about his athletic sports, his hunting and
fishing, and his long pedestrian tours. lie
had been two years at college. Hooked al
him, as he rapidly talked with a clear
souorous voice, and wondered what the
trouble was. He had pursued precisely
the course calculated to keep a sound mind
in a sound body.
He paused abruptly. His keen eye had
read my unspoken thought, and his sunny
face clouded in an instant.
"You we're thinking" he said, anC
paused again.
Eyes; of what can possibly be the mat
Ger with you"
He turned away from me; be covered hi
face with his hands; he walked the fioo
almost wildly When he sat down again
and showed me his face there were tn
plain marks of tears upon 1t. When b
spoke again his voice had hollow, hope
less sound that was absolutely startling.
~Doctor." he burst out. "you were m.